Side by side
HWiNFO64 vs FanControl
HWiNFO64
49 positive (79%) · 13 mixed (21%) · 0 negative (0%)
Trust + time weighted: +81%
AI summary — not a quote
HWiNFO64 is widely regarded by the Reddit community as the gold standard for hardware monitoring, frequently recommended over alternatives like HWMonitor for its superior accuracy and depth of data. It is primarily used to track real-time temperatures, voltages, and power consumption across nearly every system component, including VRMs and individual GPU hotspots. While highly praised for its reliability, users often note that the interface can be overwhelming for beginners who may not know which specific values to prioritize.
Pros
- Highly accurate and reliable sensor readings compared to other monitoring software.
- Comprehensive data coverage including CPU, GPU, VRM, drive temperatures, and battery health.
- Sensors-only mode provides a streamlined view for real-time troubleshooting.
- Excellent for identifying thermal throttling and power delivery issues.
Cons
- Lacks built-in performance metrics such as FPS or frame-time logging.
- Information density can be intimidating or confusing for novice users.
- Does not provide integrated fan control or RGB management.
Top excerpts
wanted to see if anyone has experience with HWInfo throwing this many errors.
Download a program called HWinfo64 and check your temperatures.
Trying to use HWInfo right now and keeping an eye on 3.3v 5v and 12v numbers to see if I can spot the spikes / dips in the maximum or minimum logs... but no disconnects yet so I will have to wait.
Let GPU-Z or hwinfo run alongside the Benchmark and see what you get.
Did u try installing hwinfo to get more detailed info on the throttling and temp?
FanControl
39 positive (91%) · 1 mixed (2%) · 3 negative (7%)
Trust + time weighted: +83%
AI summary — not a quote
FanControl is a highly recommended open-source utility for managing PC fan speeds and custom curves within Windows. It is frequently cited as a superior, lightweight alternative to BIOS-based controls and bloated motherboard software, offering advanced features like hybrid curves that can respond to multiple temperature sensors simultaneously.
Pros
- Extremely lightweight with minimal system resource usage
- Allows for hybrid curves where fans respond to the highest value of multiple sensors (e.g., CPU and GPU)
- Portable version available that requires no formal installation
- More convenient than BIOS for making real-time adjustments without rebooting
Cons
- Initial setup and interface can be unintuitive for new users
- Software-based control means it must be running in the background to maintain custom curves
- Does not resolve physical hardware noise issues if fans are inherently loud at low RPMs
Top excerpts
Use an app called "fan control" from GitHub to control their speed as well as the CPU fan speed
For fan curve, use FanControl developed by Rem0o.
For fan speeds I'd recommend grabbing a program called FanControl from GitHub, it's very lightweight and it's easier than doing tweaks in the BIOS.
Download Fan Control – Get the portable version from [getfancontrol.com](https://getfancontrol.com) (free, no install needed).
Fan Control. I use to use BIOS but ever since I learned about Fan Control, it's been a godsend